Attorneys for “Zone” property owners have asked a Maricopa County Superior Court judge to set a clear deadline for the city of Phoenix to clear the area of ​​the homeless population, while the city asked the judge to I asked for permission from the Homeless Relief Service. Go at your own pace.

In late March, Judge Scott Blaney issued a preliminary injunction asking the city to move the approximately 900 unsheltered people camping in the area starting Monday.th up to 15th From Avenue and Washington Street to Jackson Street, he considered the area a “public nuisance.”

He said the city needs to show that it has taken steps to mitigate nuisances by the three-day lay judge trial that started today.

Ilan Ullman, an attorney for the plaintiffs, argued that the city’s policies regarding the homeless, particularly permitting camps, caused the “public nuisance” at the center of the lawsuit.

He said the city’s intensified cleaning and closure of blocks in “zones” and its recent decision to develop structured outdoor campgrounds show the city can clean up the area.

But he said it was not enough, given that the “majority” of those without shelter were “resisting military service” and relocation would not take place unless camp bans and court orders were properly enforced. Stated.

Wurman asked the court to make the temporary injunction permanent and set a deadline for the end of the summer to eliminate The Zone entirely.

City attorney Stephen Pearce has filed a lawsuit seeking judicial restraint. He said actions the city has taken so far, including the removal of three blocks in the downtown district, show it is doing “and more” in accordance with the court’s original order.

He asked the court to allow the city to continue working on homelessness without a deadline or order. Pierce said he estimates the area will be completely cleared within nine months.

Plaintiffs called two executives, Ian Francis Likwarts and Freddie Brown, to testify.

Likwartz said a neighboring group, the Monroe Pioneers Coalition, has been “very proactive” in working with the city to resolve the issue.

Both Brown and Likwartz said they had been in contact with the city for three-and-a-half years to try to resolve the issue, but they didn’t see any noticeable difference in the “zone” until the court order.

Likwartz said the area was still a “battle zone”.

“If you don’t give the city a deadline, it will hold back for as long as it can,” he said.

Plaintiffs also called Judge Glock, director of research at the Manhattan Institute, to discuss solutions to service resistance and homelessness.

He cited a study from Arizona State University that found that between 25% and 41% of Phoenix’s homeless population are willing to go to shelters, while the remaining 59% to 75% reject them.

City attorney Aaron Arnson noted that the cumulative service acceptance rate for past “zone” cleanings was 67.7%, which Glock acknowledged was higher than its normal acceptance rate.

Glock said the top three reasons people refuse service are shelter rules, pets, property, the possibility of losing a partner, or mental illness. He also cited substance abuse as a major cause of resistance to service.

He guarantees the availability of low-barrier shelters, which are usually located outdoors, and does not see similar restrictions imposed on indoor shelters.

Glock also said one of the main causes of homelessness in certain cities is poor policing and poor access to services.

“Municipalities that welcome public camps more will see more public camps,” he said.

Arnson got Glock to admit he never met the mayor, city officials, city council or police to talk about homelessness in Phoenix.

But Glock said he has spoken with service providers in the area in the past and testified before the state legislature on behalf of the Cicero Institute.

Glock supported legislation establishing organized camps in several states, including Arizona.

The city called Office of Homelessness (OHS) Director Rachel Milne and OHS Deputy Director Scott Hall.

Milne said the city is planning “increased efforts” by block every three weeks to help coordinate adequate evacuation sites.

“The reason it’s taking so long is that the shelters are basically full,” Milne said. “If you go earlier than about three weeks, there is nowhere else to offer it.”

Hall said the city engaged with individuals on a case-by-case basis to determine the resources needed. He said the city makes no distinction as to whether a person is “voluntarily homeless.”

“People who are experiencing homelessness are people who are experiencing homelessness,” Hall said.

Milne said the city plans to grant additional permits as new shelters open and more beds become available. The next activities are scheduled for July 12th and 19th.

Milne said the city is in the process of adding about 800 more beds through projects in various stages of development.

Plaintiffs’ attorney Stephen Tully said expanding the homeless shelter industry wasn’t necessarily a win.

“With 425 deaths from heat stroke last year, preventing people from going out and being exposed to 116 degrees is definitely a win in my opinion,” Milne said. .

The trial will begin its second day tomorrow and continue until Wednesday if necessary.

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